After the election of US President Donald Trump, many asked themselves whether the mega wealthy should be involved in politics at all. These billionaire politicians think so! Read on for our list of the top 10 richest politicians in the world.
The Top 10 Richest Politicians In The World
- Bidzina Ivanishvili (Net Worth: $4.5 billion)
Bidzina Ivanishvili is a Georgian politician and businessman. At $4.5 billion, he makes the list of top 10 richest politicians in the world, beating out US President Donald Trump who is said to have a net worth of $3.1 billion. Ivanishvili was born into a poor family before becoming the richest man in Georgia and going on to serve as the nation’s prime minister.
- Silvio Berlusconi (Net Worth: $7.8 billion)
Silvio Berlusconi came up from humble beginnings and is now one of the top 10 richest politicians in the world. He is also the former owner of the football team A.C. Milan and even wrote the team’s anthem. This entrepreneur is also one of the longest serving prime ministers in Italian history. He served as prime minister of Italy four times.
- Mikhail Prokhorov (Net Worth: $8.9 billion)
This Russian billionaire is not only one of the top 10 richest politicians in the world, he is also one of the owners of the Brooklyn Nets! After renouncing his high level business appointments to serve in politics, Prokhorov founded a new political party in Russia, the Party of Civic Platform.
- Zong Qinghou (Net Worth: $10.8 billion)
Zong Qinghou is a Chinese entrepreneur and founder of the largest beverage company in China, Hangzhu Wahaha Group. With a net worth of over $10 billion he is one of the 50 richest men in the world, despite having little formal education. In addition to serving as the company’s CEO and Chairman, Zong is also a delegate to the Chinese National People’s Congress. Despite his lavish wealth and position as one of the top 10 richest politicians, Zong is said to live a simple life and only spends about $20 a day.
- Savitri Jindal (Net Worth: $13.2 billion)
Savitri Jindal is not only the wealthiest politician in India, she is also the wealthiest woman. She came into her wealth after her marriage to Oam Prakash Jindal, founder of the Jindal Group. After his death in 2005 in a helicopter crash, she took charge of the company and increased revenue is a huge way. The company is now worth $18 billion. She is currently the Chairperson Emeritus, Jindal Steel & Power Limited. The four divisions of her business are now run by her four sons.
- Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Net Worth: $17 billion)
King Salman of Saudi Arabia comes from one of the richest families in the world, the House of Saud. He has been King of Saudi Arabia since 2015, after the death of his half brother, King Abdullah. He has led many reforms in Saudi Arabia along with his son and successor, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, including lifting the ban on women driving. His wealth is derived largely from Saudi Arabia’s vast oil reserves.
- Vladimir Putin (Net Worth: 18.4 billion)
Vladimir Putin currently serves as the President of the Russian Federation. His net worth is contested, with some sources claiming he is the wealthiest politician in the world, possibly even the wealthiest man in the world. Some place his net worth at $75 billion. The former KGB operative has been in power for over two decades. He most recently won reelection as Russia’s president this past spring. The election was said to be rife with election fraud, but Putin’s popularity in Russia is unquestionable. Under his rule, incomes, the economy, and quality of life have increased. Putin is known for his lavish lifestyle including private jets, helicopters, and yachts, as well as palaces and country retreats.
- Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan (Net Worth: $19 billion)
Khalifa Bin Zayed, a graduate of Sandhurst Military Academy in the UK, currently serves as the second president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He is also part of the Al Nahyan family. His family is estimated to have a networth of $150 billion. Sheikh Khalifa claimed the throne after his father’s death in 2004, since then he has introduced a number of reforms, including increasing the wages of government employees by 100 percent. Along with his duties of president, Sheikh Khalifa also serves as the chairman of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, managing assets for $875 billion. He owns a palace in the Seychelles, a $600 million yacht, and luxury properties in London.
- Hassanal Bolkiah (Net Worth: $20 billion)
Hassanal Bolkiah is the current Sultan and Prime Minister of Brunei. Sultan Bolkiah serves as the second longest reigning living monarch, after Queen Elizabeth II. He is currently the world’s richest head of state, deriving most of his wealth from oil and natural gas. He was also the richest man in the world before the tech boom in the 80s and 90s, which saw him supplanted by Bill Gates. Because of its great wealth derived from oil and natural gas, Brunei is the fifth richest nation in the world and one of the few with no public debt, income tax, or sales tax. In 2006, the Constitution of Brunei was amended declaring Sultan Bolkiah infallible.
- Michael Bloomberg (Net Worth: $47.5 billion)
Michael Bloomberg in an American businessman, philanthropist, and author, as well as a politician. He began his career with Salomon Brothers investment bank after graduating from Harvard Business School, before setting up his own company, Innovative Market System, later renamed, Bloomberg LP. In the political field, he has served three consecutive terms as the major of New York City, before being succeeded by Major Bill De Blasio. Despite his vast fortune, Bloomberg often rode the public subway to work while serving as major. He also refused a salary for serving as major and accepted $1 a year instead. Although Bloomberg served as a Republican major, he now identifies as an independent. During the 2016 election, rumors circulated that he would run for president as an Independent. Instead, Bloomberg endorsed Hillary Clinton for President.
